Tissa de Silva vs. Divisional Secretary, North Nuwaragampalatha and Others – sllr 2019 volume 1 page 446

In the case between TISSA DE SILVA and, among others, the Divisional Secretary of Nuwaragampalatha – East and the Municipal Council of Anuradhapura, the Supreme Court addressed whether the Divisional Secretary possessed statutory authority to issue document “P14,” which permitted occupation of State Land by the 2nd respondent prior to the execution of a formal lease instrument by the President. It was held that no statutory or regulatory provision empowered the Divisional Secretary, or any other prescribed officer, to place a prospective lessee in possession of State Land before the proper lease instrument was executed. Central to this determination was the interpretation of the State Lands Ordinance, the Crown Lands Regulations, and constitutional and delegated powers under the Transfer o